AS the Education Ministry continues to roll out the ‘Because We Care ‘cash grant initiative across the country, the distribution process took Georgetown by storm yesterday with approximately $128M being distributed. Nearly 4,564 parents of primary school students received their $10,000 vouchers at the National Park.

Parents started to assemble very early at the National Park so as to receive their grant. Yesterday saw parents from primary schools such as Stella Maris Primary, St. Margaret’s Primary, North Georgetown Primary, Winfer Gardens Primary, St. Angela’s Primary, St. Agnes Primary, David Rose for the H/capped.
Yesterday’s distribution is the largest of the eleven distribution centres set up to serve parents in the city and its immediate environs. Tents were erected with the school’s name and the grades labelled to make the delivery process smooth and expeditious, many teachers and Head Teachers took time out to attend this event to assist in the distribution.

“The only way we can improve your community; the only way we can improve this region; the only way we can make our country better; and the only way we can make your children’s lives better, is if we invest in educating them.”-Education Minister

Some 8,315 persons were expected to have been serviced at the ten other distribution sites which included: Sophia Primary, Graham’s Hall Primary, St. Gabriel’s Primary, St. Ambrose Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, Dolphin

Secondary, St. Pius Primary, F. E. Pollard Primary, Rama Krishna Primary, Enterprise Primary.
The Guyana Chronicle spoke with a few parents after they had collected their cash grant. A mother, who wishes to be anonymous, said that she is very

grateful because she can now use this money to assist with meals and additional school items for her children. Another mother of three, Mrs Gonzales said that she is thankful for the grant and hopes that in time it increases since everything is so expensive these days.
Speaking also with a father, he noted that his children has everything for school but this grant will assist him “incase dem need anything else, you know how school is.”
Speaking briefly to parents and guardians that gathered for the distribution, Education Minister Priya Manickchand thanked the parents and guardians for taking the time to come to the National Park to uplift their cash grant. She noted that “with your presence here this morning” we know that your child or children is your priority.
She said that with this grant “we know that this is going to give you more capacity to look after your children and send them to school more

frequently.”
“The only way we can improve your community; the only way we can improve this region; the only way we can make our country better; and the only way we can make your children’s lives better, is if we invest in educating them” the Education Minister said.
She however, asked parents to take note that the Ministry will now be monitoring the attendance of the children that have been given grants, to make

sure that they are attending classes regularly. “We are now considering seriously that from next year if a child or a family is going to get the grant, that child will have to have a certain attendance at school, so it means your children have to go to school frequently” she said.
Manickchand also thanked the teachers and head teachers that took time out to assist in the smooth flow of the distribution process. She also alluded that some $600M have already been cashed at Western Union and the campaign continues until November 21.
Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds in his address said that such national programmes like the ‘Because we Care’ cash grant is sigh of the Government’s commitment to our children and their education. He added that “education is the way of advancing our nation as a whole.”

Prime Minister Hinds encouraged parents to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments and sacrifices where necessary to help their children to take full advantage of the education provided to them by the government. he urged parents to take time out to spend quality time with their children, to assist with homework ‘because allocating monies to their education is only one part of the job’.

He also related that the government continues to spend a significant portion of the annual national budget on education services, supply of books, teacher training, information technology, access to education, and new programmes to provide assistance to parents to assist them get their children to school.

The Prime Minister cautioned the gathering to view the ‘Because we Care’ cash grant initiative as one that has harmonising effects. In his

response to the negative views expressed by some sections about the amount of taxes collected. The Prime Minister said: “Those who are better-off pay relatively more taxes… when we deliver services, we deliver services equally such as this one; delivering the same amount of money to every child all across the country.”
Distribution of the ‘Because we Care’ $10,000 grant vouchers will continue in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) tomorrow. Approximately $19M is expected to be distributed to parents there.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)